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O. W. KETGHUM.

V BUTTON FASTENER. V w

No. 302,264. Patented July 22, 1884 WZYLQSSe/s Eva 61125072 W w wwwmm n PETKRS. mlwu lw. wmmm ac,

INITED STATES PATENT tries OLIVER WVILLIAM, KETCHUM, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

BUTTON-FASTEN ER.

srncrrren'rrorr forming part of Letters Patent no, 302,264, July 22, 1834 Britain, residing at Toronto, in the county of Application filed December 6, 1883. (No model.)

0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER WILLIAM KETOHUM, a subject of the Queen of Great York and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented a new and useful Button-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and effective metallic button-fastener; and it consists, essentially, in a pronged clip shaped substantially as shown, and arranged in connection with a bridge formed in the button.

Figure 1 is a view of a piece of cloth with two buttons placed upon it, one button showing the prongs of the fastener projecting through it, while the other button shows the prongs clasped round the bridge of the button. Fig. 2 is a detail of the pronged clip. Fig. 3 is a detail of the button.

On reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the clip or fastener is composed of two pointed prongs, A, projecting from and at right angles to a flat head, 13. The prongs A, it will be noticed, are on opposite sides of the head 13, and are so set that when bent over the head they willpass one another. When the two prongs are used,it is important that they should be so set on the head as to allow of their passing each other, for when fitted into the button, as shown in Fig. 1, the bridge a is located between the prongs, which, when bent past each other, clasp round the said bridge and form a rounded finish, the point of one prong being forced past the other prong and caused to project downwardly through the hole in the button by the side of the bridge a, opposite to that through which it first projects, and finding a resisting-point on the under side of the button.

It will be seen, 011 reference to Fig. 1, that the bridge a has straight parallel sides, and that each hole is adapted to receive both one prong of the clip and the point of the other prong, the former being inserted from the un der side, and the latter from the top of the hole. This construction is important, as it allows of a larger and consequently stronger clip being used, and allows the prongs to pass each other with their adjacent sides touching and supporting each other.

It is not necessary in this specification to ing the 'clip through the cloth and bending the prongs round the bridge a in the button O, as it will be understood that a suitable punch could easily be designed for that purpose.

I am aware of the clips employed for bind ing together sheets of paper. I therefore do not, claim, broadly, a pronged fastener; nor do I claim, broadly, a button having a bridged hole in its center.

I am also aware of Patent No. 64.,742, which shows a fastening made of wire bent in such a manner as would make it very costly to make by hand or require complicated machinery to construct the same. Besides, such device having, as it does, the hooks bent before they are inserted into the cloth or button, necessitates the making of an eyelet or similar hole for the passage of the hooks, and by its construction or mode of applying it is very liable to be wrenched off, while the points of the prongs do not pass into the button as do mine, and hence are liable to catch into and tear the clothing.

I am also aware of Patent No. 271,185, which shows a fastening made of sheet metal, the head of which is provided with a central bulge, with the prongs arranged to pass each other, but they do not pass into the button, but are so arranged that they are liable to catch into and tear the clothing, while a sudden strain would tear the button from the cloth. I make no claim to the constructions shown in the said patents, as I deem my invention essentially different therefrom. I construct my improved fastener of sheet metal, and being easily and quickly struck up, I can manufacture them at amuch less expense than those above men tioned, while the prongs, being returned into the hole in the button, and findin g a resistingpoint 011 the under side of the same, prevent the button from being torn off, while at the same time the prongs are hid from view, and cannot catch into or tear the clothing.

I am also aware of Patent No. 229,557, and make no claim to the construction shown therein, as I deem my invention essentially different therefrom and an improvement thereon, for the clip there shown is so constructed that when the prongs are passed into the holes of the button and bent they do not pass each describe any particular instrument for driv- 1 other with their sides touching and support ing each other, whereb5 in case of a sudden I one prong of a clip and the point of the other jerk all the strain comes on one of the prongs,

whereas by my construction each prong supports the other, and hence my prong is much more durable.

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United- States, is

1. As an improved article of manufacture, a sheet-metal buttonfastener consisting of an oblong head, 13, having straight parallel sides,

two prongs, A, projecting at right angles fronr the sides of the head, and arranged in relation to each other and a plane passed between the prongs at right angles to their'line ofjunction with the head, that the right-hand edge of one prong and the left-hand edge of the other will be tangent to said plane, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, With a two-holed button, each hole of which is adapted to receive prong, with a bridge between the two holes,of a clip made from sheet metal having a flat head, 13, with straight parallel sides, two prongs, A, projecting diagonally from the sides of the head, the right-hand edge of one prong being substantiallyin line with the left hand edge of the other prong, when bent at right angles to the head 13, whereby when fitted into said two-holed button the prongs will pass each other,with their sides touching and supportingeach other, and each enter the hole from which the other emerged, thus leaving a rounded finish on one side and a smooth surface on the other, the head B fornr ing a stay to prevent the button being forced off, substantially as described.

OLIVER XVILLIAM KETOHUM. Vitnesses:

Grnumns W. HAYWOOD, Y D. MCKENZIE. 

